STD Health Equity
This area displays images of people and factoids about STD disparities, all of which are detailed at www.cdc.gov/std/health-disparities/gender.htm, www.cdc.gov/std/health-disparities/race.htm, www.cdc.gov/std/health-disparities/age.htm, and www.cdc.gov/std/health-disparities/location.htm.
CDC is committed to improving the health of populations disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted diseases; and eliminating disparities in STDs is essential for achieving health equity. By addressing the differences in STD rates* that occur by gender, race or ethnicity, geographic location, or sexual orientation, CDC supports individual health and promotes community wellness.
Recently Added
Anti-gay stigma sparks rise in black male HIV rates
NCHHSTP Director Kevin Fenton, MD addresses the growing anti-gay stigma in the United States and its relation to a rise in black male HIV rates in an op-ed article.
CDC awards $5.4 million for community approaches to STD prevention
CDC's Community Approaches to Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases (CARS) initiative to enable four funding recipients to extend the reach of prevention services
What is CDC doing about STD disparities?
In June 2007, CDC's Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) met with community leaders, and other partners who work with African American communities to talk about developing acceptable and effective approaches to reduce STD disparities. Read the meeting report on the Consultation to Address STD Disparities in African American Communities.
After the meeting, DSTDP formed an STD disparities workgroup and developed a strategic plan to reduce STDs among African Americans and other groups with high numbers of reported cases of STDs. As part of the plan DSTDP will prioritize and monitor activities, and evaluate and assess the effectiveness of activities in preventing and controlling STDs in the most affected groups.
Community Approaches to Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Framing the Conversation
In 2010, the STDs Disparities Stakeholders Group, convened by CDC and composed of representatives from governmental agencies, non-governmental agencies, and non-traditional partners, met in conjunction with the 2010 CDC National STD Prevention Conference to discuss a “values strategy” (framing) conversation on the issue of the disproportionate burden of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) within the African-American community. The results of that conversation was the STD/STI Framing Conversation Report.
Although there are some signs of progress, large disparities by age and race still exist. The STD/STI Framing Report provides the workgroup’s suggestions and actionable items for consideration for CDC to combat this persistent high burden of STDs. This report is useful for governmental agencies, non-governmental agencies, and non-traditional partners working with ethnic and minority communities in the health and medical fields.
* Rate - A rate is an expression of the frequency with which an event occurs in a defined population. Using rates, rather than raw numbers of reported cases, allows comparison between and among populations. Rates used here are expressed as the number of cases per 100,000 persons in the population being presented.
Resources
- CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report — United States, 2011 MMWR January 14, 2011 (January 13, 2011)
- Reportable STDs in Young People 15-24 Years of Age, by State (February 5, 2010)
- Indian Health Surveillance - STDs (February 2, 2010)
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases Special Issue - the background papers from CDC's 2007 Consultation to Address STD Disparities in African American Communities (February 23, 2009)
-
Consultation to Address STD Disparities in African-American Communities - June 5 - 6, 2007 Meeting Report
(October 18, 2007) - Health Disparities in HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STDs and Tuberculosis in the US: Issues, Burden and Response
(November 25, 2007)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2006 National Health Disparities Report
- Federal Collaboration on Health Disparities Research (FCHDR)
- Kaiser
Health Disparities Report: A Weekly Look at Race, Ethnicity and Health
Other Health Disparities
- Health Disparities – Information from CDC
- Health Disparities in HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STDs, and TB
- Health Disparities in Cancer
- Healthy Youth, Addressing Health Disparities
- Smoking & Tobacco Use, Health Disparities
- Chronic Disease Prevention, Health Disparities: A Selected Bibliography
- Occupational Health Disparities
- TB in African Americans
